Remembering NCC Days - Jerry Codiñera

Jerry Codiñera a new kid on the block

When he took the plunge to the pro league, a lot of basketball experts were saying 
that Jerry Codiñera would be the heir apparent to Ramon Fernandez' throne. But as 
the season progressed, things turned out different for Jerry. And this year, 
it was evident that Fernandez' throne was being challenged by Benjle Paras and 
Alvin Patrimonio and Codiñera is heir apparent to somebody else! And that somebody 
else is Philip Cezar. The 6-6 Codiñera, a vital cog of the Hotdogs, confirmed his 
intentions when he swatted away on all-time record 11 shots during Purefoods' 
126-94 romp over San Miguel. Well, the old record of ten blocked shots in one game 
actually belongs to Fernandez who achieved the feat on April 24, 1982 in a game between 
Toyota and Utex. But the acknowledged Shot Block King is Cezar, who posted the most number 
of rejections the 1987 season at 113 in when he was still with Great Taste. Several months ago, 
a solvent company came up with a promo in search of a new Tapal King. Of course, Cezar was 
still in contention for the title. But being realistic, even Cezar who attended the press 
conference launching the promo, felt that guys like Codiñera and Paras had the best 
chances of snaring the title.

From Sports Weekly Magazine 80's / 90s